Develop an Abundant Mind - Part 1 of 8
April 13th, 2007 | Michael Pink
The keys to developing an abundant mindset are found in Phil 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
The first place I must develop abundance is in my mind. When I marinate my mind in abundance, it will get in my heart and will naturally find expression in my day to day life. Not by the things I acquire, but rather the liberality or generosity with which I live. (Of course, to give, I must first have.) When you think on things that are true, for example, you might well ponder the implications of Romans 8:32… “For God who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also, freely give us all things?”
I once took the better part of the day just to attempt to take in the implications of that verse. I would love to hear your feedback on it. For some, it will mean spiritual gifts, for others it might mean healing or natural provision. From my perspective, it is not limited. There is nothing He will withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)
If all I think about is natural abundance, then my mind is starved indeed and anything but abundant. To have an abundant mind, it must be filled with the kind of things Paul tells us to think on. When our mind is abundant in this way, our hearts will be also and then it will be much easier to manifest in our lives the natural abundance we need to fulfill the purpose of God for our life.
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April 16th, 2007 at 6:01 am
The literal translation of “think” is below -I was struck by the “estimate” approach, given that our thoughts are fallen and we may not know out hearts as well as we “think” we do!! hence the need for the Holy Spirit to search out hearts … and our thinking.
G3049
%u03BB%u03BF%u03B3%u03B9%u0301%u03B6%u03BF%u03BC%u03B1%u03B9
logizomai
log-id’-zom-ahee
Middle voice from G3056; to take an inventory, that is, estimate (literally or figuratively): - conclude, (ac-) count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).
April 16th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!
Thats literal.It a manifestation in this sphere of life.
Abundance mentality should reflect in this sphere too; the heart of abundance ,which is really the heart of God on the matter spritually or otherwise.
The King owns it it all ! Kingdom
or King’s domain.
so where are we now?as kings and priests.
we happily take the role of priests what about kingship?If we do where does abundnce come in from.
Our domain?Where do we have rulership.The marketplace ! No votes here,not democracy.Kings rule stands wheather we like it or not
Now for abundance mentality.Spritually and physcially .It is what the King decrees ! Rom 8vs 32
April 16th, 2007 at 7:55 am
I view Php 4:8 as a filter for what I should allow into my mind and heart - what I read, watch, think about, etc.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:09 am
I’m with you Rick
April 16th, 2007 at 9:26 am
All the promises of God to man are contingent upon man having faith in God. That is the precursor and only requirement, which God has placed on us. It alone determines the level, as to which God blesses us physically, mentally or spiritually.
We are told to %u201Cthink of these things%u201D but to do that effectively we have to go back two verses, to Php. 4:6 where it tells us %u201CBe careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.%u201D When we trust Him enough to take everything to Him in prayer, then the next spiritual step is for us to have our thinking right. (Php. 2:5 %u201CLet this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:%u201D)
By taking time to ponder the implications of Rom. 8:32 like Michael Pink did and applying it to our lives, we then start living out, in the flesh, what Christ has done for us in our hearts. Here again, though, we must look at the previous verse and apply it in faith for us to have the abundance and benefit of these blessings. In verse 31, it says %u201CWhat shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?%u201D
Too many times, when I should have been thinking right things, I instead dwelled on my own ways and means and have limited the very abundance, which God so wanted to give.
With all my heart I want to turn from my own wicked ways of thinking and trust our Father who is so much %u201Cfor us%u201D that He %u201Cspared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,%u201D and receive these abundant blessings in the order and time which He deems is best, but not for me to waste on myself, but instead, to use for the furtherance of His kingdom in the marketplace.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Good word Michael. Gary. I agree with you that the previous verses set precursors. Abundant thinking and the results that CAN come with it is really contingent upon faith in the one who provides all things…including the air we breath and the very fact that we are alive today. If you can read this blog…Praise God..He has given you today!
April 16th, 2007 at 11:35 am
to me, it would mean God with give all thinks according to His will, which we must submit to and, as we draw nearer to Him, our desires will begin to mirror His will for our lives. This is the abundance of God in our lives.
April 16th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
The company I manage sells its services based on monthly subscription fees. I have had the thought of donating a new subscriber’s first month to a God-endorsed cause, then telling the new subscriber what we did and why … using that action as a springboard to show in real tangible ways that the work we do is done to the glory of God.
I haven’t done that yet … perhaps this abundance mentality is the “gentle nudge” I need!
April 16th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Thank you for such a rich word and series. I have prayfully decided to take the next seven days and seek God for much deeper inspiration. Yes, I am in a mental drought and I lack focus. I am looking foward to part 2 of this “abundant mind” message.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Good comments from all of you. I got help reading your insights! Thank you! Also Dave, I want to encourage you to step out like you suggested, even if you just do it as an experiement for a short time, just to see how God might use it.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:08 am
My wife and I led a womanto te Lord who is a Mafia Widow. When she was in Federal Prison she wrote a journal of her life. Icraftedthat into a book. From a Mafia Widow to God’s Child Can anybody help me get this out. Itcan bring many to salvation and healing. A study guide is icuded with it.
Ed
April 17th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Ed; Try contacting Victory Publishing in Tulsa, OK
April 17th, 2007 at 10:56 am
God is an abundant God - just look at an ear of corn - one seed planted yields a stalk of corn with 4 ears on it and all of them have 150 or so kernels of corn on them. Abraham’s seed was abundant as the grains of sand or the stars in the sky. That is quite a promise for someone who is, otherwise, infertile. God gives seed to the sower & he allows us to bring in our sheaves laughing.
April 17th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Romans 8:32 has to be put with verses 31 through 34 so we can understand verse 35T
To those who love God and trust Christ and are called according to his purpose, verse 28 says that all things will work for your good. Verse 30 says that your final glorification is secured. Verse 31 says that since God is for you, no one can be successfully against you. Verse 32 says that since God gave his Son for you, he will give you everything you need. Verse 33 says that since God is the one who justifies, no one can make a charge stick against you in the courtroom of heaven. Verse 34 says that since Christ died and was raised and is at the right hand of God and intercedes for you, no one can condemn you.
What Is God%u2019s Design in This Truth?
What is God%u2019s design in all of this spectacular truth? His design is your security for the sake of bold, joyful, unwavering suffering for the cause of Christ. How do we know this? Because of the next verse. Everything is getting us ready to hear this: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” The point is that the massive power and wisdom and love of God for his people does not promise escape from these things. The power and love and wisdom of God promises triumph in these things.
In the sword that cuts off your head or pierces your heart. In the peril that sweeps away your family and leaves you alone. In the nakedness that shames you in the rape or prison yard. In the famine that leaves you and your bloated children with bones draped in skin. In the persecution that blocks all your professional advances or burns your house. In the distress or calamity that leaves you paraplegic or takes all your life savings. In the tribulation that wrings your soul till you wonder if every drop of faith will be squeezed out of it.
The design of God in this chapter is to give you such a deep, firm, unshakable, God-wrought, blood-bought security in his all-conquering love, that in these seven kinds of sufferings you will not curse him or forsake him or reproach him, but trust him and hold fast to him and be satisfied with him when all else is taken away. “When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.” Or, as Job said, after he tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground, “Naked I came from my mother%u2019s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21; see 42:11)
In other words, the design of this passage is not to add eternal security to a life devoted to earthly comfort. The design is to promise eternal security to free you from a life devoted to earthly comfort, and give you the freedom and joy and courage to move toward need, not toward ease. Oh, the joy and holy health of soul that Americans forfeit in living for their own comfort while the poor and sick and oppressed and unloved and unconverted people of the world perish. Sum it up like this: Romans 8 is about God in Christ giving massive security for merciful service through many sufferings
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Recently published book by Ed Colton about Robin Colombo, A Mafia Widow of the well-known N.Y. crime family. True story of how she wandered through the wilderness of life of many hardships and married to Jerry Colombo and entered into some of his crime ventures. Her life was redeemed after his death by giving her heart to Jesus Christ.
Makes for good reading and personal thoughts give and in depth look into Ms. Colombo’s soul.